TThheeooddoorree RRoooosseevveelltt aanndd HHoolltt CCoolllliieerr NNaattiioonnaall WWiillddlliiffee RReeffuuggeess DDrraafftt CCoommpprreehheennssiivvee CCoonnsseerrvvaattiioonn PPllaann aanndd EEnnvviirroonnmmeennttaall AAsssseessssmmeenntt PPhhootttoo bbyy MMiiicchhaaeelll AA... KKeellllllyy,,, WWiiillldd EExxppoossuurrreess DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT THEODORE ROOSEVELT AND HOLT COLLIER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES Sharkey and Washington Counties, Mississippi U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region Atlanta, Georgia February 2015 Table of Contents SECTION A. DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN I. Background ................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 1 Purpose and Need for the Plan .................................................................................................. 4 National Wildlife Refuge System ................................................................................................ 4 Legal and Policy Context ........................................................................................................... 5 Legal Mandates and Administrative and Policy Guidelines ............................................... 5 Biological Integrity, Diversity, and Environmental Health Policy ........................................ 6 National and International Conservation Plans and Initiatives .................................................... 6 National Wetlands Priority Conservation Plan ................................................................... 6 North American Bird Conservation Initiative ...................................................................... 7 Climate Science Centers .................................................................................................. 9 Relationship to State Wildlife and Habitat Protection Agencies .................................................. 9 II. Refuge Overview ......................................................................................................................... 11 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 11 Refuge Description, History of Establishment, and Purposes ................................................... 11 Special Designations ............................................................................................................... 11 Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area ........................................................................ 11 Ecosystem Context .................................................................................................................. 14 Landscape Context .................................................................................................................. 17 Gulf Coastal Plains and Ozarks Landscape Conservation Cooperative .......................... 17 Regional Conservation Plans and Initiatives ............................................................................ 17 Recovery Plans .............................................................................................................. 17 Southeastern Coastal Plain Colonial Waterbird Conservation Plan ................................ 19 Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley/West Gulf Coastal Plain ShoreBird Management Plan .......................................................................................................... 19 Lower Mississippi River Ecosystem Team Goals and Objectives ................................... 20 Lower Mississippi Valley Joint Venture ........................................................................... 20 State and Local Conservation Plans and Initiatives .................................................................. 21 Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy .............................................................. 21 Ecological Threats and Problems ............................................................................................ 22 Deforestation and Alteration Of Habitat .......................................................................... 22 Exotic, Invasive, and Nuisance Species ......................................................................... 23 Potential Impacts Associated with Climate Change ........................................................ 23 Physical Resources ................................................................................................................. 24 Climate ........................................................................................................................... 24 Geology and Topography ............................................................................................... 24 Soils ............................................................................................................................... 25 Hydrology ....................................................................................................................... 26 Air Quality ....................................................................................................................... 27 Water Quality and Quantity ............................................................................................. 28 Biological Resources ............................................................................................................... 28 Flora - Habitat ................................................................................................................. 28 Fauna - Wildlife .............................................................................................................. 30 Flora - Plants .................................................................................................................. 32 i Cultural Resources ...................................................................................................................33 Historical Period ..............................................................................................................34 Socioeconomic Environment ....................................................................................................35 Demographic Data ..........................................................................................................36 Economy, Recreation, and Tourism .........................................................................................39 Refuge Administration and Management ..................................................................................39 Land Protection and Conservation ..................................................................................39 Visitor Services ...............................................................................................................40 Personnel, Operations, and Maintenance .......................................................................41 III. Plan Development.......................................................................................................................43 Public Involvement and the Planning Process ..........................................................................43 Priority Resource Issues ...........................................................................................................43 Fish and Wildlife Population Management ......................................................................43 Habitat Management .......................................................................................................44 Resource Protection ........................................................................................................44 Visitor Services ...............................................................................................................44 Refuge Administration .....................................................................................................45 Wilderness Review ...................................................................................................................45 IV. Management Direction ...............................................................................................................47 Introduction ..............................................................................................................................47 Vision .......................................................................................................................................47 Goals, Objectives, and Strategies ............................................................................................48 Refuge Goals ..................................................................................................................48 Summary ........................................................................................................................48 Fish and Wildlife Population Management ......................................................................49 Habitat Management .......................................................................................................52 Resource Protection ........................................................................................................55 Visitor Services